I am pretty sure no one needs to listen to this album to know how great Otis Redding is. But let me say that Otis died when he was 26 years old. He certainly sounds much older and maturer than that. In the 9 short years that he was active, Otis built a reputation for being one of the greatest singers of all time. Q magazine ranked him number 4, after Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Elvis... nuff said. He is also my favorite male singer, Aretha still has the top spot on my favorites of all time. The one thing that Otis had over the others on the list is that Otis was also a song writer. A pretty good one too. Dock of the Bay, Try a Little Tenderness, Respect to name a few. In addition he also covers songs too. His version of the Stones' Satisfaction here is pretty great. He can certainly make something his own. Pulling off a few pretty iconic Sam Cooke songs too. This album is on all types of "best of" lists. Certainly great enjoyable soul here. As you listen to it try to imagine how many people have tried to tackle soul singing the same way. No one even comes close.
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